Blend Raymond brought me a growler of Keene Idea brewed on the old Alpine system: arguably the best hoppy beer ever made

God damn, huge 🚴 props to @benbikes4beer for hand delivering this nelson blast from the past to DDB MANOR. Keene Idea redefined what was possible in a pre-haze generation and continues to articulate what poise and skill excised from nelson hops is capable of. This was brewed at the old chili and waffle fries Alpine facility: no green flash interloping, Christian book store notes off the charts. It’s everything I loved about the old elusive bombers of Nelson, with a smattering of Fuzzy Baby Duck, greyhound grapefruit pith, light grands biscuit sweetness, long pleasant pine air wick swallow with a confrontationally delicious clementine finish. Mandarin oranges and 7th grader backpack, TOOL patches attendant thereto. This stands next to Ephraim and Pre-expansion Citra [perhaps Boy King] as the old guardians of hoppy excellence and perhaps the best that have ever been coned. This is an absolute treat and 2L isn’t close to enough.